Donor-funded UGA program cultivates young musicians into community-driven leaders.

Reprinted from University of Georgia’s UGA Today, June 18, 2026, by Rachael Andrews.

Nestled in a town known for shaping the sound of modern music, it’s perhaps no surprise that the spirit of Athens’ iconic music scene lives on at the University of Georgia. From the rise of bands including R.E.M. and the B-52s to today’s thriving creative community, Athens has long been a place where collaboration, experimentation and leadership take center stage.

Now, that legacy is helping inspire the next generation through the Gretsch Musician Leadership Academy, housed within UGA Summer Music Camps at the Hugh Hodgson School of Music.

Through this immersive, weeklong experience, high school students explore not only their musical talents but also their capacity to lead, connect and serve. This inaugural year of the academy — fully funded by the Gretsch Foundation, the charitable arm of the Gretsch family with ties to the music industry spanning more than 140 years — brings together students from across Georgia. Founded in 1883, the Gretsch Company has long been associated with the sound of iconic artists across genres. Their legendary guitars and drums reflect a tradition of craftsmanship, innovation and a deep connection to working musicians that continues today.

The program covers the full cost of attendance for select participants, including many from rural communities or schools with limited access to music education and who may not have visited UGA’s campus before. For Dinah Gretsch, the investment is both practical and personal.

“If companies like ours don’t invest back into music education, they’ll never have a customer in the future,” she said. “But more importantly, if you invest in a young person, you’re giving them something they can grow and pass on to others.”

That investment is already taking root in the students themselves.

“In just a few days, we’ve learned so much about what it really means to be a leader — not someone who stands above others, but someone who serves them,” said Brayson Jones, a student from Monroe County. “The biggest takeaway for me is that leadership is about putting others first, building community and doing everything you can to support the people around you.”

Learning to lead through music

At its heart, the academy reflects a defining trait of Athens’ music culture: the idea that music is inherently collaborative and constantly evolving. Students are encouraged to learn from one another, form connections across genres and backgrounds and create something bigger than themselves.

Change and collaboration were key to the “garage band” roots that helped shape both the Classic City sound and the Gretsch brand, which grew from a small Brooklyn workshop into one of the most recognizable names in the musical instrument business.

“What they gain here is something they own,” Dinah Gretsch said. “No one can ever take that away from them. Whether they realize it yet or not, their talent is something they can shape into whatever they want. Music gives them pride. It gives them confidence, and that can change how they see themselves.”

For camp attendee Cassie Matthews of Oglethorpe County, that growth is already clear.

“Here, we’re learning how to understand other people’s perspectives while also knowing our own worth — how we impact others and how they impact us,” she said. “It’s about seeing both sides, being respectful and still being able to share your point of view. That’s what it means to be a strong leader in your community.”

The academy’s structure is rooted in open dialogue, collaboration and reflection. It also helps students build confidence in new ways.

“I really like our teachers and the way they structure the program,” said camp attendee Riley Hano of Savannah. “They give us a foundation, but the discussions are open-ended, and we work in different groups all the time. It doesn’t feel forced. You get to connect naturally. I’ve found myself talking and engaging more than I normally would in class. It’s a really encouraging, thought-provoking environment.”

Fred Gretsch sees these moments of connection, confidence and creativity as the foundation for something even larger.

“The goal is to create a musician leadership community across the Lowcountry of Georgia and South Carolina,” he said. “We want students to value their gift, to nurture it and then to share it and build a more musical community for everyone.”

Expanding access and opportunity

By connecting institutions like UGA with broader regional efforts, the Gretsch family aims to ensure that talent can flourish regardless of geography or background. The impact is especially meaningful for students who may not have had access to instruments, instruction or enrichment opportunities before.

That commitment to access extends beyond the classroom, including the family’s support of the free “That Great Gretsch Sound!” museum in Savannah, where visitors can explore the company’s history and its influence on generations of musicians through a partnership with the Fred and Dinah Gretsch School of Music at Georgia Southern University.

“A lot of children might never even consider playing music because they don’t have the opportunity,” Dinah Gretsch said. “This program gives them that chance.”

In some cases, that chance becomes life changing. Music can provide a sense of belonging, a creative outlet or even a bridge to connection for students who may struggle to find their place elsewhere.

“Music can be a bridge,” she said. “It can be a way for someone to express themselves and connect with others.”

That belief aligns closely with UGA’s mission to prepare students to lead and serve in their communities. By pairing musical instruction with leadership development, the Gretsch Musician Leadership Academy equips students not only to refine their craft but also to use it with purpose.

A legacy carries on

As the program looks ahead, success is measured in ripple effects: more students discovering music, more communities strengthened by creativity and more young leaders finding their voice.  That momentum is fueled by the Gretsch family’s philanthropic investment in students who might otherwise never have the opportunity to explore their talent.

“We’d love to see more kids picking up instruments, more garage bands forming,” Fred Gretsch said. “Wherever they go, whether it’s UGA or somewhere else, we want them to carry that passion with them.”

In Athens, that passion has long fueled a music scene that changed the world and continues to do so. Through the Gretsch Musician Leadership Academy at UGA, it is now shaping something just as powerful: the confidence of a student on stage for the first time, the spark of a new idea shared among peers and the beginning of a lifelong connection to music and community.

And like the best songs to come out of the Classic City, its impact won’t end when the week is over. It will echo far beyond campus, carried forward by the students themselves.